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Gods and Genes

Gods and Genes

De : Amber Sher
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Are you curious about the intersection of health and religion? Wondering how to navigate meaningful conversations as a healthcare provider with your patients as they discuss their own faith with you? Hosted by a certified genetic counselor with a religiously mixed background, Gods and Genes explores how personal beliefs and clinical practices intertwine. We’ll hear a diversity of perspectives: chaplains, spiritual leaders, nonreligious scholars, genetics professionals, and many many more. I hope you’ll stick around for a podcast rooted in curiosity, compassion, and complexity. Whether you’re personally spiritual or simply seeking to better support your patients’ beliefs, Gods and Genes offers thoughtful dialogue, real stories, and a safe space to ask: What are and aren’t we prepared for when talking about the sacred in science?

If you would like to contribute, we'd love to connect! Make sure to subscribe to our email listserv to know the latest happenings on Gods and Genes. Feel free to fill out our guest interest form here or share your ideas with us at contact@godsandgenes.com or godsandgenes@gmail.com. If you'd like to stay in touch, give us a follow on Instagram @GodsandGenes.

Gods and Genes is part of Gene Pool Media Network, with over a dozen different science-related podcasts to check out. Logo graphic design by Safiah Peeran.

Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Hygiène et vie saine Maladie et pathologies physiques Science Spiritualité
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    Épisodes
    • #3 “Spiritual Genetics” Meeting the Hosts of Autoimmune Adventures

      #3 “Spiritual Genetics” Meeting the Hosts of Autoimmune Adventures
      Jan 17 2026
      Hosts Becky Miller, Stacy Griffin and Alysia Thomas share their inspirational story on how they started their restorative podcast, Autoimmune Adventures, for all autoimmune warriors. In this episode, host Amber Sher, MS, CGC engages with the three sisters behind the Autoimmune Adventures podcast, exploring their personal journeys with autoimmune conditions. The conversation delves into the challenges of diagnosis, the role of faith in their healing processes, and their vision for a holistic autoimmune care center. The sisters share insights on breaking generational trauma and emphasize the importance of listening in healthcare. Their stories highlight the power of community, resilience, and the shared human experience, offering hope and support to fellow autoimmune warriors. Guest Bio: Autoimmune Adventures is a podcast hosted by three sisters—Stacy Griffin, Becky Miller, and Alysia Thomas—who are navigating life with chronic illness and turning their experiences into support, science, and storytelling. Each episode blends lived experience with expert insight, covering everything from functional medicine and nutrition to mindset, self-advocacy, and daily resilience. With a warm, honest, and often humorous approach, the sisters create a space where listeners feel seen, supported, and empowered to live boldly with autoimmunity. Their mission is simple: to share real stories, practical tools, and hope for anyone walking a similar path. Find out more from the Autoimmune Adventures at their website: autoimmuneadventures.com. You can also find them on Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@AutoimmuneAdventures , Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/autoimmune-adventures/id1763425785, and many more platforms. Key Takeaways: Faith plays a crucial role in providing comfort and strength during challenging health journeys. The episode explores how science and faith can coexist and support each other in the healing process.Healthcare providers should prioritize listening to patients, as their experiences offer valuable insights.Becky, Stacy, and Alysia share their vision for a comprehensive care center that integrates both traditional and non-traditional medicine for autoimmune conditions.There's a need for increased research and resources dedicated to autoimmune conditions.Maintaining a positive outlook is vital in navigating the complexities of autoimmune conditions. Podcast Resources Autoimmune Adventures Podcast. Episode 67. autoimmuneadventures.com. Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/autoimmune-adventures/id1763425785 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AutoimmuneAdventures Relevant Resources: Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.The APA 7th edition format lists authors Pei-Chen Chou, Yu-Chi Huang, and Sebastian Yu as Chou et al., with the journal Life (MDPI), volume 14, issue 1, article number 98. Publication date is January 8, 2024; PMCID: PMC10817356.Shmerling, R. H. (2022, December 1). Genes protective during the Black Death may now be increasing autoimmune disorders. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/genes-protective-during-the-black-death-may-now-be-increasing-autoimmune-disorders-202212012859. Elsevier. (n.d.) Heterozygote advantage. In ScienceDirect Topics. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/heterozygote-advantage. Be sure to subscribe to Gods and Genes on your podcast app, here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss future episodes exploring belief, meaning, and medicine. Would you like to be a guest on Gods and Genes? Email your pitch to Amber at contact@godsandgenes.com or godsandgenes@gmail.com. And if you want to stay up to date about our latest projects and releases, subscribe to our email listing (https://forms.gle/JFs4n6u4fimSZkFw6). We are releasing episodes on a monthly schedule with plans to increase our releases more frequently. We thank you for your patience and hope you continue to support us as we work hard to release content on a regular basis. Gods and Genes is a proud affiliate of Gene Pool Media. While you wait, why not check out one of the other incredible podcasts in the Gene Pool Media network (https://www.genepoolmedia.com/) ? With over a dozen different podcasts to choose from, you’ll have no trouble finding a podcast in your niche. Gods and Genes is hosted and produced by Amber Sher, MS, CGC . Our logo graphic designer is Safiah Peeran. See what else we are up to on Instagram. Questions/inquiries can be sent to contact@godsandgenes.com or godsandgenes@gmail.com.
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      55 min
    • #2 Misconceptions about Faith in Healthcare

      #2 Misconceptions about Faith in Healthcare
      Dec 15 2025
      SUMMARY: In this episode of Gods and Genes, host Amber Sher, MS, CGC, delves into the intersection of healthcare and faith, exploring how spirituality can be integrated into medical settings. The episode addresses common misconceptions about chaplaincy, emphasizing the role of chaplains as spiritual care practitioners who provide holistic support beyond end-of-life ceremonies. Amber discusses the importance of understanding patients' spiritual needs and offers strategies for healthcare providers to engage in meaningful conversations about faith. The episode also highlights the significance of religious leaders in patient support systems. If you enjoy what you’re hearing, follow us on Instagram @GodsandGenes. Subscribe, rate, and comment on this podcast as it truly helps other interested individuals find this restorative space (godsandgenes.podbean.com). If you would like to contribute to the podcast, please reach out via email to contact@godsandgenes.com or godsandgenes@gmail.com. Gods and Genes is created, hosted, and produced by me, Amber Sher. Logo Graphic Design is produced by Safiah Peeran. Gods and Genes would not be possible without the incredible support of Gene Pool Media network. Eager for more science-related podcasts to add to your commuting playlist? Check out the shows on Gene Pool Media—there’s over a dozen different shows to choose: https://www.genepoolmedia.com/podcasts CORRECTIONS: @5:31 - “However nearly half of surveyed Americans described being religious or spiritual, but not both.” - This statistic was later verified to be incorrect. It is nearly a third (33%) of Americans who describe being religious or spiritual, but not both, as reported by the Pew Research Center in 2023. I apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. RESOURCES: Sialidosis Information Cure Sialidosis. www.curesialidosis.org. Click here to donate. National Organization for Rare Disorders. (2016, May 27). Sialidosis. NORD | Rare Disease Database. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/sialidosis/. Featured Paper Richeimer, N., Wilson, K., Petrasek, A., & Weiner, J. (2023). Emunas Chachamim (faith in the sages): A prenatal genetic counseling needs assessment of Orthodox Jewish clergy in Los Angeles. Journal of Genetic Counseling, jgc4.1816. https://doi.org/10.1002/jgc4.1816. Faith in Healthcare Pew Research Center. (2023, December 7). Spirituality among Americans. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/12/07/spirituality-among-americans/. Anandarajah, G., & Hight, E. (2001). Spirituality and medical practice: Using the HOPE questions as a practical tool for spiritual assessment. American Family Physician, 63(1), 81–89. Association of Professional Chaplains. (n.d.). Association of Professional Chaplains. https://www.apchaplains.org/. Best, M., Butow, P., & Olver, I. (2015). Do patients want doctors to talk about spirituality? A systematic literature review. Patient Education and Counseling, 98(11), 1320–1328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2015.04.017. Earl, B. S. W., Klee, A., Edens, E. L., Cooke, J. D., Heikkila, H., & Grau, L. E. (2022). Healthcare Providers’ Perceptions about the Role of Spiritual Care and Chaplaincy Services in Substance Use Outpatient Treatment. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(15), 9441. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19159441. London Health Sciences Centre. (2025, October 21). Truths and misconceptions: Spiritual care. https://www.lhsc.on.ca/news/truths-and-misconceptions-spiritual-care. Puchalski, C. M., Vitillo, R., Hull, S. K., & Reller, N. (2014). Improving the Spiritual Dimension of Whole Person Care: Reaching National and International Consensus. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 17(6), 642–656. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2014.9427. Sagaser, K. G., Shahrukh Hashmi, S., Carter, R. D., Lemons, J., Mendez‐Figueroa, H., Nassef, S., Peery, B., & Singletary, C. N. (2016). Spiritual Exploration in the Prenatal Genetic Counseling Session. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 25(5), 923–935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-015-9920-y. Skinner, M., Mason, S., & Cockling, N. (2022). How Do Healthcare Chaplaincy Spiritual Care Interventions Support Adults’ Mental Health by Integrating Health and Social Care?: A Review of Primary Research Studies Published in English 2010–2019. Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, 10(1), 27–49. https://doi.org/10.1558/hscc.20588 Thompson, A. B., Cragun, D., Sumerau, J. E., Cragun, R. T., De Gifis, V., & Trepanier, A. (2016). “Be Prepared if I Bring It Up:” Patients’ Perceptions of the Utility of Religious and Spiritual Discussion During Genetic Counseling. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 25(5), 945–956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10897-015-9922-9.
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      28 min
    • #1 Meet the Host of Gods and Genes

      #1 Meet the Host of Gods and Genes
      Nov 14 2025

      In this special pilot episode of 'Gods and Genes,' host Amber Sher, MS, CGC, is turning the tables and being interviewed by Kira Dineen, MS, LCGC, CG(ASCP)CM, host of DNAToday. This conversation explores the intersection of healthcare, spirituality, and genetics. Interviewed by Kira Dineen, Amber shares her personal journey and the inspiration behind the podcast, discussing how her religious background influences her practice. The episode delves into the importance of understanding patients' beliefs in healthcare and the potential for science and spirituality to complement each other.

      Amber shares her personal background growing up in a religiously mixed home (Christian/atheist), her journey through deconstruction and back to a post-deconstruction Christian identity, and why that lived experience drew her to study religion and spirituality in genetic counseling for her graduate capstone at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI). With training in genetic counseling and a background shaped by a religiously mixed upbringing, Amber brings a unique perspective on how to navigate questions of faith in medical settings.

      In this episode, we covered how some patients raise spiritual or religious concerns in a way that can invite us to build rapport. When this does happen, we go through strategies on how to be ready and not reactive. We cover that personal religious or spiritual identity isn't necessary to navigate these conversations. Instead, skills and training can be adapted for the scenario with examples of validation, reflection, collaboration. We go into how chaplains, rabbis, clergy, etc. can be allies who understand medical contexts and patient values. And we cover tricky situations like navigating when religious beliefs go against evidence-based options.

      Gods and Genes is a brand new podcast in the Gene Pool Media network. Gods and Genes is hosted and produced by Amber Sher, MS, CGC. Logo graphic designer is Safiah Peeran. Special thanks to Kira Dineen for all the contributions to this episode. Find us at godsandgenes.podbean.com and follow us on Instagram @GodsandGenes. Be sure to subscribe to Gods and Genes on your podcast app, here on Spotify and here on Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss future episodes exploring belief, meaning, and medicine. If you'd like to share your ideas for the podcast, reach out via email to contact@godsandgenes.com or godsandgenes@gmail.com.

      Post-Show Corrections: At (12:30) Amber shares that in every session religion/spirituality comes up, she meant to say every rotation she went through, not with every patient.

      Relevant Resources:
      • Religion On the Mind podcast hosted by Dan Koch (Spotify, Apple, and Substack)
      • "Utterly Humbled by Mystery" by Father Richard Rohr
      • Rob Bell on Spirituality and Mystery
      • Richeimer N, Wilson K, Petrasek A, Weiner J. Emunas Chachamim (faith in the sages): A prenatal genetic counseling needs assessment of Orthodox Jewish clergy in Los Angeles. J Genet Couns. 2024 Oct;33(5):1045-1058. doi: 10.1002/jgc4.1816. Epub 2023 Oct 25. PMID: 37877233.
      • Thompson AB, Cragun D, Sumerau JE, Cragun RT, De Gifis V, Trepanier A. "Be Prepared if I Bring It Up:" Patients' Perceptions of the Utility of Religious and Spiritual Discussion During Genetic Counseling. J Genet Couns. 2016 Oct;25(5):945-56. doi: 10.1007/s10897-015-9922-9. Epub 2016 Jan 13. PMID: 26758255.
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      46 min
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